Cultural Competency: It Isn't Just For Medical Students

The Joint Commission recently announced that it is "developing accreditation standards for hospitals that will promote , facilitate and advance the provision of culturally competent patient-centered care."

The Joint Commission, formerly the Joint Commisssion on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, is an accrediting body that evaluates health care facilities based on performance standards.

This new commission initiative is important to medical school, residency and fellowship applicants because it highlights the significance of cultural competency in your medical education and your (future) career.

Click Here to read the Joint Commission plan.

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The Importance of Cultural Competence

Many medical school clients have been asking me for advice regarding secondary essays pertaining to cultural competence. I find that many applicants neither understand the meaning nor the importance of cultural competence in the practice of medicine today. Because the population in the United States is becoming increasingly diverse, it is essential for physicians (and physicians to be) to understand how culture influences health related behavior, beliefs and perceptions.

An article by Betancourt et al clearly describes the definition and importance of cultural competence. I encourage all medical school and residency applicants to be well versed in this topic.

Click Here to read the article.

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